Lottery will decide who hunts on city of Hudson property

Hudson -- Bow hunting of deer will be allowed on city-owned property this season, but hunters will have to participate in a lottery to win a permit.

Council Aug. 20 voted to permit bow hunting for deer on the city's Hines Hill property, formerly known as the Youth Development Center.

Council first passed legislation to allow deer hunting in the city in 2011 and limited it to bow hunting or crossbow hunting from a tree stand at least eight feet from the ground on a minimum of five acres of land.

This is the first year hunting will be allowed on 145 acres of city property on the south side of Hines Hill Road. The Hudson Public Works Department will have a lottery to grant hunters permission to hunt on the property for the 2014-15 season.

Hunters must register for the lottery by calling 330-342-1750 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 22 or 23. The names and contact information taken during those calls will be entered into the lottery, according to Jody Roberts, city communications manager.

The lottery will take place at 9 a.m. on Sept. 24. The first 10 names drawn will be contacted by the city, and those 10 hunters will be given permission to hunt on the Hines Hill Road property.

The 10 selected hunters will be given specific rules for hunting on city property and asked to complete a permission to hunt form. They must attend an information session at the site prior to hunting season.

The city will create a waiting list from the remaining names on the list. If a hunter who wins the lottery discontinues hunting before the end of the season Feb. 1, 2015, the next hunter on the list will be contacted.

All bow hunters inside the city must obtain a Hudson bow-hunting permit, complete the city's archery proficiency test at Gander Mountain in Twinsburg, and have a proper hunting license issued by the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

Hunting requirements and restrictions, harvest information, tagging information along with permit information can be obtained at the Hudson Police Department, 36 S. Oviatt St. and at www.hudson.oh.us.

Deer hunting forms are available at www.hudson.oh.us/DocumentCenter/View/1136 or 1137.